The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-02-27

EMsSwe HAYS MET Of nave known of-Rs-
collections and "Reminiscences Of a Free

insane and deplorable act OF killing
President Lincoln that he would only
have been known to fame as the son OF
the elder Booth and as the brother of
Edwin. He was genial, generous
fellow and not without both hereditary
and cultivated genius. But he was
dissolute in his habits and had
an aversion to study. Notwithstanding
these drawbacks he was making rapid
strides in his profession, when in the fall
of 1864, long threatened throat affection
became so serious as to necessitate his
temporary, If not permanent, retirement
from the stage. OF the tragic event of
April, 1861, the world has heard enough,
and there is no desire here to rehash 1t.
Booth was insane, but nothing but the
heroic manner of his death prevented his
memory from being universally execrated
as a common assassin. But the man who
met death as he did was not of the metal
that bushwhackers are made of.
The purport of this paragraph is to
state exactly when he resided in Rich
mond, as many accounts most Of them
untrue) have been published. Wilkes
Booth, under the name of J. B. Wilkes,
first appeared at the old Marshall Theatre
in September, 1858 In the same com
pany were Harry Langdon, ID. H. Har-
kins, William Fl. Bailey, and others. The
play was Town and Country"
He remained that season, and was re-
engaged in 1859, and remained here until
June, 1860, when he went to Montgome-
~, Ala, and was there at the time of the
| fall of Fort Sumter OF his after-career,
until the assassination of Lincoln, the
writer knows nothing.
He was a good light comedian, excellent
| in light emotional parts, and the best fop
that Richmond, in those days, had ever
seen. The best parts he ever played in
Richmond were L0rd Dundreary GldCts
in Lady of Lyons" Richmond, Dick
DaStdH and MercutiO. He once played
Ottell0 to Edwin's IagO, and once at
tempted Richard III, but was inferior,
except in the first three acts. Personally,
he was popular with all classes. He went
to Harpers Ferry with the Richmond
Grays during the John Brown troubles,
and thoroughly identified himself with
our people
1t is hoped that it will not be consider
ed treason to say that the sad ending of a
life that seemed so full of Joy and prom
ise was both regretted and deplored by
many who had known him in the better
days.
Robert G.. Scott was the great wheel
horse of the Richmond Democracy from
1886 to 1862. He was one Of the ablest
criminal lawyers in the State, and an
able and ELOQUENT speaker. President
Pierce sent HIM as consul to Rio janet
70 in 1853. He came back home during
Mr.. Buchanan's administration and was
succeeded by his son, Captain Robert g.
Scott, Jr., who still resides with us, and
is one of our best citizens and link that
binds us to happy past. The elder
Scott married a rich widow in Alabama,
and passed the latter part Of his life in
that State.
John Minor Bolts was the great ante
war leader of the Wings of Virginia.
Magnetic, eloquent whOlesouled he was
the idol of his party. He was too adj
vanced however on the free-soil question,
and this impaired his popularity. He
represented this dictrict twice in Con-
gress He lived at what is now known
as "Elba Park" 1t was then at the head
Bolts was great patron Of the turf, and
was respected and esteemed by both par
ties During the war he espoused the
Union cause, and died after the evacuation
in Culpeper county.
The old merchants of Richmond. What
host of memories these words conjure
up Webb, Bacon & Co. Oh. f. G. Basker
ville); Dunlop, McCance IL Co. (ThOmas
w. McCance); r. Barton Haxall, l.. ID.
Crenshaw, John f.. Womble William
Wallace, Daniel n. London, Thomas W.
Dudley, George NJ West, the Bargamins,
Adie & Gray DuVal & Norton, A. Morris,
Joseph w Randolph, Mitchell 81 Tyler,
Beers IL POindexter, Charles Gennet, f.
b. Spence, Putney 81 Watts, Hubbard,
Gardner & Carlton; Kent, Paine & Co..
White & Page, George Ruskell, NJ. ).
Valentine, Thomas d. Quarles, Breeder
& Fox, Mark Downey, Matthews
IL Timberlake, John Harold, Juan and
Andrew Pizzini, F. Mccarthy, James
Blair, A. Lester, Philip August, w p. W.
Taylor, Grubbs & Apperson, and so on
through the long list. These were some
of the merchants of the Olden time, of
whom it may be said their names were
the synonym Of honor and fair-dealing.
How many survive even of the above
imperfect listy But they were men, take
them all in all, we shall not soon see their
like again.
Who were the old pslicey Ask the
Richmond man who was boy between
1910 and 1866, and he will tell you, old
Byrd Page, Glenn White, VIM. n. Kelly,
r. T Seal, jim Peasants, Burwell Jen-
kins, John Warrington, Walter Bib,
Tom White, L. NJ. Chalkley, Daniel True
heart, and some others not now recalled.
All, all are gone except Peasants and
Seal
Call the roll of the Old doctors Old
DR.. Cullen, Conway, Bohannan, John
son, Mills, Chamberlayne, Dove, Beale,
Coleman, Waring, Lewis, Maupin, and
Workman. Mills, Beale, and Lewis sur
vive-the others have met the inevitable
fate
The old editors nave long since ceased
from their labOrs. COwardin, Moseley,
Peasants. the Riches, Wise, Ridgway,
Dewitt, Daniel, Smith, and Johnston
None left eXcept ROdger A. PRYOR